FIFA World Cup 2026: Another shocker as Netherlands knocked out by Morocco after shootout drama

Morocco reached the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after edging past the Netherlands 3-2 in a penalty shootout in round of 32 following a gripping 1-1 draw after extra time in Monterrey on Monday.

The Dutch exit came just hours after Paraguay produced the biggest upset of the 2026 FIFA World Cup by knocking Germany out in the Round of 32, making it another day of major surprises in the tournament.

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Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou emerged as the hero in the shootout, producing the decisive save when he kept out the Netherlands' fourth penalty from Crysencio Summerville. Striker Ismael Saibari then stepped up and blasted home the winning spot-kick to seal a 3-2 victory in the shootout.

The win sends Morocco into a last-16 meeting with Canada in Houston on Saturday.

The contest needed extra time after Issa Diop rescued Morocco in dramatic fashion, glancing in an equaliser in the first minute of stoppage time when the Netherlands looked set to progress.

The Dutch had moved ahead midway through the second half through Cody Gakpo, who was playing only days after his partner confirmed the death of the couple's unborn son.

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After finding the net, the Liverpool forward dropped to the ground and appeared overcome with emotion as team-mates gathered around him in a lengthy embrace.

Morocco forced extra time when substitute Chemsdine Talbi delivered a cross that found an unmarked Diop, who headed home deep into added time.

The Atlas Lions created the better openings in a hard-fought encounter that was filled with crunching tackles from both teams, stretching the patience of Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio.

Morocco nearly took the lead in the 20th minute when Neil al-Aynaoui glanced an Achraf Hakimi corner towards goal, only for Netherlands goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen to produce a superb reflex save.

Moments later Verbruggen was called into action again, tipping Hakimi's fierce strike over the crossbar.

The intensity of the game was clear midway through the first half when Saibari escaped punishment after catching Jan Paul van Hecke in the face with an elbow.

The Netherlands enjoyed long spells of possession but struggled to turn that control into clear scoring opportunities.

Their best chance of the opening half came in the 44th minute when Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven unleashed a powerful effort from outside the area, forcing Bounou into an excellent save.

Van Hecke remained heavily involved and, after suffering a bloody head in a collision inside the penalty area, made another strong challenge by bringing down el-Aynaoui just before the interval.

As first-half stoppage time unfolded, Saibari narrowly failed to get on the end of a dangerous cross that flashed across the Dutch goal.

The second half continued at a frantic pace and the momentum appeared to swing towards the Netherlands after coach Ronald Koeman introduced Wout Weghorst in a wave of substitutions following the hydration break.

Weghorst made an immediate difference by flicking on a long ball into the path of Summerville. Summerville then squared the ball for Gakpo, who threw himself at the cross to score.

With Virgil van Dijk, Gakpo's Liverpool team-mate, marshalling the Dutch defence superbly, the Netherlands seemed destined for victory before Diop's late header forced another 30 minutes.

Morocco almost found the winner in the 96th minute when Soufiane Rahimi raced through on goal, but Verbruggen produced a stunning save to keep the Dutch alive.

The Netherlands survived until the penalty shootout, and although Morocco missed their opening kick when El-Aynaoui struck the crossbar, the North Africans recovered impressively to complete a memorable victory and move into the last 16.